Spencer Butte elevation workout

After hiking over 75 miles last week mostly along rivers, my legs, feet and heart needed some serious elevation work. The weather was clear getting warmer (like 70 later in day), and sunrise was before 06:00. A large carbon karma expenditure also hung in the balance from driving thru Central OR, … Spencer Butte offered the perfect low carbon high elevation gain workout opportunity!

The Route

Left home around 5:30 and was hiking by 5:45 from Spring Blvd trailhead (th). First to Spencer top, then down to S. Willamette th and back to the top for #2. Then off to Blanton Ridge th and back to the top for #3, and finally down to the S. Willamette trail junction and back to the top for #4 and the return down to Spring Blvd th and my car. Total around 19.5m and 4,200 ft elevation gain – a good workout in 7 hours. (recorded track)

Trail conditions were perfect. Enough moisture for cushion but no puddles or mud – first Spencer hike of season in trail runners (current fav). People traffic was higher than recent trips given the better weather. I also encountered two mountain bikers (MTB) which was a new ‘high’ count, and trail runner count is also increasing. One met me at Baldy meadow before 6:15 and we talked about the weather layering (see below).

The trail maintenance crew was working on clearing a recent blow-down on the return trip – the detour around the tree (even though only needed for bicycles) was well established by this time because hikers refused to step over a 6″ log – sadly.

Sunrise

Actual sunrise was just before I reached the top of Baldy, but given the fog it slowly unfolded. That early runner and I were standing looking at the moon photo and that floating island. The trees and fog before the sun photo was taken at the first stone steps.

Forest Floor

Deciduous leaves are still not fully grown on Spencer Butte, and the forest floor ground cover of all types are just exploding with growth and color. Almost like one could watch them grow. The saturation and diversity of the greens blew me away.

With all these tender young green shoots, those who eat them … pretty well fed! These two most likely last year’s children look pretty robust. The one in front had tiny antler nubs popping out.